Paraguay Survive Almiron Red Card To Knock Turkey Out Of World Cup

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 11:32 IST

Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 despite playing a half with 10 men after Miguel Almirón’s historic red card. The win keeps Paraguay alive and sends Turkey out.

Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive and sent Turkey crashing out of the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Friday night, in a match remembered as much for a bizarre red card as for the result itself.

The win also confirmed co-hosts USA as Group D winners before the final round of fixtures.

Galarza Strikes Early

Paraguay could hardly have asked for a better start. Midfielder Matías Galarza stunned Turkey just 63 seconds after kickoff, pouncing on a defensive lapse before unleashing a precise low drive beyond goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır.

The early goal immediately put Turkey on the back foot and handed Paraguay the platform they needed in a match they simply could not afford to lose.

Turkey responded well and began dominating possession, but struggled to turn that control into clear-cut chances. Their best opportunity of the first half came when Mert Müldür’s header struck both the crossbar and the post, leaving Turkish fans wondering how the score remained unchanged.

Almirón Makes Unwanted History

The game took a dramatic turn deep into first-half stoppage time.

Miguel Almirón became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off under the tournament’s newly introduced mouth-covering rule.

During a heated confrontation, the Paraguay midfielder briefly covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Müldür. Turkish players immediately alerted referee Iván Barton, who consulted VAR before producing a straight red card.

The dismissal left Paraguay facing the entire second half with 10 men and defending a slender lead.

The rule was introduced ahead of the tournament after concerns that players were hiding abusive comments by covering their mouths during confrontations.

Paraguay Hold Firm

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Paraguay showed tremendous resilience after the break.

Turkey pushed forward relentlessly but lacked the cutting edge needed to break through. Deniz Gül squandered a golden chance in the 88th minute after goalkeeper Orlando Gill could only parry a shot into his path, stabbing the rebound wide.

Merih Demiral then headed narrowly off target in stoppage time as Turkey desperately searched for an equaliser.

The final whistle sparked celebrations among the Paraguay players, while devastated Turkish stars slumped to the turf.

Turkey become the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from the World Cup, while Paraguay head into the final matchday still dreaming of a place in the knockout rounds.

(with AFP inputs)

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Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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